Thomas Henry Axtell KNIBBS, son of
Thomas Bayliss AXTELL and Harriet Annie KNIBBS
,
was born 14 August 1896 in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, England. He married Lily Edwina M HEWITT
bet. January and March, 1923 in Reading, Berkshire, England. He died 16 May 1975 in Reading, Berkshire, England. Lily Edwina M HEWITT was born bet. April and June, 1899 in Reading, Berkshire, England. She died bet. January and March, 1934 in Reading District, Berkshire, England.

Thomas was the illegitimate son of Harriet Annie, and quite probably the son of Thomas Axtell who married her. He was baptised as Thomas Henry Axtell Knibbs just weeks before his mother married Thomas Axtell, but it is seen in the 1901 census, after his mother married Thomas Axtell, that he is listed as Thomas Axtell. Initially I thought this meant that he had dropped the surname Knibbs once his mother married. However, I then went on to discover that he married using the surname of Knibbs so the Knibbs family name carried on through more generations.

From what I can understand, Tom was a very strict father. He had 4 daughters and 2 sons ranging from fairly new born through to 11 years when his wife died, so maybe he had good reason. Apparently he used to hide his daughters' shoes up inside the chimney so that they couldn't go out dancing when he was at work. __________

The Wiltshire County Council have reference in the Wiltshire and Swindon Archives of a Thomas Henry Axtell Knibbs as being listed in the GWR Pension Fund, indicating he was a railway worker for GWR (Great Western Railways).__________

Thomas received two commendations during his service with the Great Western Railway Compamy:7 June 1941, he was commended for rendering prompt assistance whilst off durty, in dealing with sleepers on fire at the bottom of bank nmear Doiwn Home Signal.27 July 1949, he was commended for observing a wagon on fire in a train approaching Sonning Signal Box, and promptly assisting in extinguishing of same. Also awarded a gratuity of 10/6d.

The Railway Employment Records show that Thomas was granted compassionate leave on the death of his wife, Lily Edwina M nee HEWITT - c15th January 1934.__________

We see Thomas and his two children, Iris and Roy, living at 36 Donnington Road, Reading, Berkshire, at the time of the 1939 Register.